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The Cities of Orono and Long Lake are undergoing significant changes with the construction of the new Highway 12 by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The new roadway will be what is known as a "Super 2" standard, providing extra wide lanes with long site lines and the elimination of hills.
This project has already started with the construction of wetland areas to compensate for those that will be lost. Buildings in the Long Lake area are being demolished or moved from their existing sites in preparation for the new roadbed. A new Long Lake City Hall and Fire Station have been constructed and the Long Lake Public Works Department is being relocated.
The existing BNSF railroad will be relocated and millions of cubic yards of material will be excavated as part of the effort.
The Highway 12 project will entail many heavy construction vehicles operating in the area over the next 3 years. During this time there will be various road closures affecting access to the Highway 12 area. The City of Orono is committed to keeping at least 2 of the 4 main intersections open at all times.
For current information on which roads are affected by the Highway 12 project as well as the most recent project updates, please access the MNDOT website.
You can link to a DOT live camera shot of the construction. The camera is located east of Brown Road, and slightly north of the existing railroad tracks. The view is looking westward. If you're opening the link early in the morning, click yesterday's date on the calender to the left of the picture to see a view with daylight.
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